They've got specific training on how to respond to different situations... with the minimum amount of force in proportion to what they are facing

— Brigadier Sally de Beer, SAPS spokesperson

Speaking to #NightTalk's Gugs Mhlungu and Sizwe Dhlomo, Brigadier de Beer said that police commanders on the scene of the protests have received specific training and refresher courses to deal with the kind of protests they have had to deal with.

During Monday's protests, a priest from the Holy Trinity Church was injured after being caught by a rubber bullet fired from one of the police vehicles on the scene of the protests.

According to EWN, the Holy Trinity Church had opened its doors to protesting students while police were making rounds in a Nyala and firing rubber bullets.

He (Lieutenent-General Khomotso Phahlane) visited various campuses, including Wits. The situation that he saw was that police were standing back and observing the situation, acting as they should and acting with maximum restraint as we have been telling them over and over. They were continuously pelted with rocks and stones

— Brigadier Sally de Beer, SAPS spokesperson

Brigadier de Beer says that while police an the scene of the university fees protests have been doing as they have been trained to do and have practiced restrained, they have been under under attack from protesters.

Listen to the conversation below:

Watch below a video report from EWN on Monday's university fees protests at Wits University: